Focus On the Fry

Before I start, allow me to explain that I am not a not a creep, but rather a fine artist. I assure you that people-watching is contemporary fine art. Understand that I realize this topic may be controversial for some, but my aim is simply to observe how weird humans are and to have a little fun imagining scenarios. OK, now that that's out of the way, let's look a some people of the week.

As I stopped to sit down by the HUB to take care of some administrative tasks, I couldn't help but to watch as student sitting outside the HUB mindlessly shoved french fry after french fry in his mouth (and I'll admit they looked delicious). I watched his expressionless face and his rhythmic process of digging his hand into a greasy paper bag, pulling out an endless stream of fries. He had the thousand-yard stare, looking off into nothing.

 Right as I started to get bored with this Mr. French Fry, another guy, I assume it was his friend, plops down next to him smiling and talking about about something. Mr. French Fry was too engrossed in his meal too utter anything more than a slight smile and chuckles to whatever this other guy said. Now I'm genuinely worried about Mr. French Fry; I can't help but to think what he might be going through. And then there's the other guy who, having just gotten rejected, whips out his phone and starts typing something. Let's call the second guy, "Phone Guy."

Phone Guy is what I like to call a "classic millennial." When faced with rejection, he just takes out his phone. In our society, I feel like people's phones have become a safe place when they're embarrassed or bored. Even I am guilty of it. 

Photo Credit: gifemotions.tumblr.com

Moments later, a female strolls up to the duo and takes a seat, smiling and saying some words. Poor girl doesn't know what's about to hit her. Boom! Both parties, Mr. French Fry and Phone Guy, seem briefly interested but continue with their respective tasks. What's left for her to do? That's right, whip out the old phone. What is it with these people? Is there no kindness left in the world? Or has the stress of college made them incapable of human interaction. 

Such questions got me thinking. I realized, as weird as it may have looked at the time, we probably have all gotten to the point where all we want to do is clear our minds and eat some good comfort food. School is stressful, but french fries are not. With all the hubbub and noise we deal with as Penn State students, we sometimes just need a little escape, no matter how small. Perhaps this was the case with Mr. French Fry, or perhaps he was just staring for no reason. No one except him will ever know what he was thinking, and that's the fun of people-watching